SPORTS BRIEFS

Agencies

BASKETBALL

Turkoglu fails dope test

The NBA slapped Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu with a 20-game ban on Wednesday after he tested positive for steroids. The league said the 33-year-old Turkish player tested positive for the steroid methenolone. Turkoglu blamed the positive test on a “trainer” in Turkey, but he did not name the person who gave him the steroids. “While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury,” Turkoglu said in a statement. “I didn’t know that this was a banned substance and didn’t check before taking it. I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake.” His suspension began on Wednesday night.

SOCCER

Magpies’ Tiote arrested

Newcastle United and Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. Media reports said Tiote, who only returned to England this month after playing for Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, had his car seized following his arrest. “At about 1:30pm on Feb. 12, a car was stopped on Benton Park Road, Newcastle, and a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of fraud in relation to driving offenses,” a Northumbria police spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Any absence for the tough-tackling Tiote will be a blow to Newcastle, who are 16th in the Premier League, four points above the relegation zone. There was some good news for Alan Pardew’s men, though, with the manager saying striker Yoan Gouffran should return to training next week following a shin injury in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

RUGBY UNION

Healy to miss two matches

Ireland’s Cian Healy will miss the Six Nations matches against Scotland and France after receiving a three-week ban for stamping on England’s Dan Cole during last weekend’s defeat in Dublin. After Sunday’s 12-6 loss at Lansdowne Road, prop forward Healy was cited and his case was heard by a disciplinary committee in London on Wednesday, who suspended him until March 10. Tempers flared in the 14th minute of England’s victory when Healy used his boot on rival Cole’s ankle at a ruck formed following a collapsed maul, sparking a mass brawl. Healy will miss the matches away to Scotland on Feb. 24 and at home to France on March 9, but he will be available for Ireland’s final game against Italy in Rome on March 16.

SOCCER

Dresden ban own fans

Second-tier German side SG Dynamo Dresden have taken the unusual step of banning their own fans for their next three away matches after supporters rioted at a match on Friday last week. Supporters of relegation-threatened Dynamo landed the club in hot water again with the German Football Association when they clashed with police and set off flares during their team’s 3-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern. Dresden fans rioted in the town center before the game, causing an estimated 70,000 euros (US$94,150) of damage, having also caused trouble in Hannover in October last year. The ban will include next month’s trip to second-tier leaders Braunschweiger TSV Eintracht 1895. “We wanted to set an example. This penalty should bring the rioters around.,” Dresden chief executive Christian Mueller said.